By Joan Collins One of the Adirondacks’ most sought-after boreal species, by visiting birders, is also one of the most entertaining to observe. With their loud “quick, three beers” song, the olive-sided flycatcher won’t elude your ear. Their … [Read more...] about Catching up with a boreal flycatcher
birdwatch
What will happen to Bicknell’s thrush?
Concerns for potential disruptions to rare bird's habitat By John Thaxton When I heard the Olympic Regional Development Authority planned to start cutting trees at Whiteface Mountain to create new ski trails, connector trails between the … [Read more...] about What will happen to Bicknell’s thrush?
A call of mourning
By John Thaxton When I think of unsung beauty I think of mourning doves, with their gorgeous, smooth pale brown plumage flecked with black and their pretty, pale blue eyelids. I also think of their squeaky wingbeats as they take to the air from a … [Read more...] about A call of mourning
Listening for a nasal call that brings a smile
BIRDWATCH By John Thaxton During a field trip to Bloomingdale Bog that my wife and I led for Northern New York Audubon, a woman who hadn’t said a thing for an hour and a half, nor smiled, turned to me with a merciless look and demanded: “I … [Read more...] about Listening for a nasal call that brings a smile
The familiar shriek of gulls
By John Thaxton BIRDWATCH Affectionately known in many places as garbage gulls, ring-billed gulls feel preternaturally comfortable around humans, happily accepting handouts of french fries or apple cores or, in my experience, pizza crust. They … [Read more...] about The familiar shriek of gulls
A classical bird song
By John Thaxton When a musicologist friend of mine from Manhattan came to the Adirondacks for a long weekend, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed, loudly enough for me to cringe when I heard him, “Beethoven’s Fifth!” I looked … [Read more...] about A classical bird song